Eng Frank Kitumba, the former ICT director of Makerere University, is nursing serious injuries following a violent attack on Tuesday night within the university campus.
The assault occurred around midnight, just an hour after Kitumba returned from visiting his two-year-old child at Wandegeya Medical Chambers, where the child was receiving treatment for malaria and other illnesses.
According to Kitumba, a Fuso truck without number plates, carrying about 30 individuals, forced its way into his compound. The attackers, who did not wear masks, beat and dragged him, leaving him with severe head injuries and bloodstains on his black T-shirt.
The assailants ransacked his home, stealing money, phones, laptops, and other valuables. They also took all the phones belonging to his family members, leaving them without any means of communication.Additionally, the attackers looted household items, including fridges, gas cookers, and personal belongings. In a bizarre twist, the intruders reportedly wore Kitumba’s suits as they made their escape.
A visit by our reporter to Kitumba’s home revealed extensive damage of broken beds, mattresses slashed into pieces, shattered windows, and even vandalized toilets. Kitumba’s wife recounted how the attackers called her by name and issued commands.
“They picked my car keys from the house and told me to go open it and put inside what I thought was most valuable to me,” she recalled.
Kitumba says he sought help from his armed neighbours, but they refused to intervene. He then ran to the Local Council 1 (LC1) chairman, who responded quickly and confronted the attackers. As they attempted to flee, the chairman struck the Fuso truck with a grazing stick, leading to the arrest of a suspect, identified as Henry Katabira, a turnboy.
Katabira is currently detained at Wandegeya Police Station. Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed the arrest, stating that Katabira faces charges of aggravated robbery under reference SD 02/02/04/2025, and that investigations are ongoing.
The truck, was later found abandoned near Kajjansi police station with some of Kitumba’s stolen belongings inside. The vehicle has since been impounded and transferred to Wandegeya police station.
The attack has raised serious concerns about security at Makerere University. Some officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, questioned how a truck could enter the university premises at midnight without scrutiny.
Sources allege that the vehicle was allowed inside “on orders from above,” though they did not specify who issued the directive. Kitumba’s lawyers from GEM Advocates, led by Stanley Okecho, condemned the attack as an act of cowardice.
“How can a truck enter Makerere, through the main gate, and cause such mayhem to a resident? These actions are acts of cowardice. Consequences shall follow, regardless of kindred, to everyone involved—no matter how long this takes,” Okecho stated.
Long-standing legal battle with Makerere The attack comes amid Kitumba’s prolonged legal battles with Makerere University over his eviction from university housing. In October 2024, Kitumba appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for protection after receiving threats of eviction from Makerere police and university management.
Kitumba, who served as ICT director for seven years until April 2018, claims that the university has refused to pay his outstanding National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions, which have now accumulated to over Shs 200 million, including interest. His troubles date back to a dispute over “science money.”
Kitumba was first hired on a five-year contract in December 2012, which was later extended for three years and then for two months until April 30, 2018—without a performance appraisal. His conflict with the university intensified after the government enhanced salaries for science teachers in public universities by 30% in 2010.
However, ICT staff under the Directorate of ICT Support (DICTS) were excluded. In response, Kitumba and his colleagues petitioned the Ministry of Public Service. By 2011/2012, Makerere University had received Shs 7 billion for science staff, while other public universities received Shs 4 billion.
Following continuous complaints, the ministry of Public Service ruled in 2017 that ICT staff qualified as scientists and should receive the enhanced pay. Makerere University eventually began paying DICTS staff the increased salaries in 2017, but Kitumba never received his arrears and gratuity—despite the government having disbursed the funds.
Although Makerere later terminated Kitumba’s contract, he refused to vacate university housing until he was fully compensated. He took his case to the Labour Office in Kawempe, which ruled in his favor. Makerere appealed to the Industrial court but lost.
On July 16, 2021, Industrial court judges Ruhinda Ntengye and Linda Lillian Tumusiime Mugisha upheld the Labour Office ruling and ordered the university to pay Shs 31.8 million in gratuity, Shs 90.4 million in salary arrears for science pay.
Makerere complied with these payments but failed to settle his NSSF contributions, which have since grown to over Shs 200 million. With Kitumba’s ongoing legal battles, suspicions linger about whether the attack was merely a robbery or an orchestrated attempt to intimidate him. For now, police investigations continue as Kitumba recovers from his injuries, waiting for justice in both his legal case and the violent attack against him.
